Tracker-valve mechanism.



e. s. EARDL EY. TRACKER VALVE MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 13. 1915.

Patented June 13, 1916.

ORNEX Drmnuunuuuuuuuaub noun 14 63 wnuoonsnauouan aucnuua Qorge Ki l A BY 4? WITNESSES:

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 00., WAHINGTON, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE S. EARDLEY, OF ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO \VILLIAM. J. EARDLEY, OF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA.

TRACKER-VAL! E MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 13, 1916,

Application filed March 13, 1915. Serial No. 14,180.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE S. EARDLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Alameda, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tracker-Valve Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a tracker valve mechanism for player pianos.

It is one of the objects of the presen invention to provide means for adjusting the position of the tracker valve with relation to the music sheet as it passes over the tracker-board, and particularly to a mechanism which will permit the tracker valve to be adjusted while the music is being played.

Further objects will hereinafter more fully appear. The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front view showing the application of the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the tracker valve. Fig. 3 is a section on line 33, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing a slight modification of the adjusting mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates the tracker valve in general which is constructed as follows: 2 indicates an arm which is pivotally mounted, as at 3, on a plate bracket 4-. Pivotally mounted on lugs 5 formed on said arm is a trip valve 6 which is normally held in closed postion against the port 17 of the pneumatic mechanism by a coil spring 7 Straddling the outer end of arm 2 is a U-shaped clip 8 which is secured thereon by means of a screw 9. This screw extends through a pair of upturned lugs 10, formed on a second bracket 21, and a nut 11 mounted on the screw between the lugs forms a means by which the arm and trip valve may be adjusted with relation to the edge 12 of the music sheet 13. Beneath the lugs 5 the arm is formed with a lateral extension 23, slidably secured to the bracket 21.

In operation, referring to Fig. 1, 14 indicates a case in which the tracker-board 15 and reel 16 are mounted. The upper reel is adapted to be moved longitudinally in the usual manner by means of the bellows 17 of the pneumatic mechanism and the connected tracker valve indicated at A for the purpose of keeping the perforations in the music sheet 13 in direct alinement with the openings 18 formed in the tracker-board.

In actual practice, it is found that different reels of music will vary slightly in width and will also in time become sulficlently worn on the edges to produce atendency to run a little to one side or the other, thus bringing the perforations in the music sheet out of alinement with the openings in the tracker-board. The tracker valve is provided for the purpose of automatically keeping the perforations in the music sheet in alinement with the openings in the tracker-board. It is, however, necessary to adjust the position of the tracker valve to suit various reels. This is accomplished in the present instance by turning nut 11 in one direction or the other. This causes arm 2, with connected trip valve 6, to swing about pivot 3 into or out of engagement with the edge 12 of the music sheet. The moment a reel has been placed in position it is only necessary to turn nut 11 until the desired register is secured. The tracker valve will then automatically retain this register in the usual manner. In Fig. 4. the same result is accomplished by the use of the screw 19 swiveled to bracket 22. The

nut 20 is in this instance fixed or secured to the screw, while the screw passes through a threaded opening in arm 2. Any turning movement of the nut and screw will thus cause the arm to swing about pivot 3 in one direction or the other or into or out of engagement, with the edge of the music sheet.

The provision of the adjusting mechanism here provided permits the tracker parts of the apparatus are such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate.

I Wish it understood that various changes in form, proportions and details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims, and that I do not wish to limit myself to the specific design and construction here shown.

Having thus described -my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A tracker valve mechanism comprising spaced brackets, an arm pivoted at one end to one of the brackets and slidably secured to the other bracket adjacent the opposite end, a-port ofthepneumatic mechanism of a piano-player carried by the armadjacent the pivotal mounting, a tracker valve adapted 'forclosing the port-and pivotally carried by the arm adjacent the second bracket, the latter being provided with an upturned lug extending substantially parallel to the arm, and adjusting means interposed between and engaging with thearm and the lug of the second bracket for adjusting'the arm and valve bodily.

2. A tracker valve mechanism comprising a bracket having an upturned lug-extending transgersely thereof, an arm consisting of a Hat body having a lateral extension vslidably secured tothe bracket'and a pair of spaced .lugs, a port of the pneumatic bracket plate carried by'the trackenboard,

an arm pivotally mounted on the bracket plate, a p0rt of the pneumatic mechanism of the player-piano carried by'the arm, a

trip valve pix'otally mounted on the arm and norm-ally closing the port, a U-shaped member embracing the outer endof the arm, a screw securing themember'on the arm, a pair of lugs formed on the bracketthrough which said screwextends, and a nut on the screw mounted between the lugs, said lugs holding the nut against 'endwise movement while being turned.

In testimony whereofI have hereunto set my hand in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE S. EARDIJEY.

lVitnesses JOHN H, HERRING, -FRANCES V. Conn.

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